Tayside’s COVID-19 booster vaccine uptake is among highest in Scotland

Uptake of the NHS Tayside COVID boosters vaccination programme is among the highest in Scotland.

Vaccination teams are delivering more than 600,000 COVID and flu vaccinations between September and December, in community vaccination centres, hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes and patient’s homes.

That’s an average of around 40,000 vaccinations per week across Tayside.

So far around 93,000 COVID boosters, or third doses for those who are severely immunosuppressed, have been delivered in Tayside.

This is around 46 per cent of those aged over 50, which is significantly higher than the Scottish average of 35 per cent, and 27 per cent of over-18s, compared to 20 per cent across Scotland.

This puts NHS Tayside second among the mainland boards.

The teams have also given 95,000 flu vaccines to those in at-risk groups so far and are on track to offer everyone who is eligible their COVID booster and flu vaccinations by mid-December as planned.

This is in addition to continuing to offer drop-in sessions for first and second COVID vaccinations.

NHS Tayside public health vaccination programme director Lynne Hamilton said: “Vaccination staff have been working exceptionally hard over the past year to ensure people get their flu and COVID vaccinations and I’m really proud of their commitment and dedication.

“It is truly humbling to see the extra mile all staff have, and continue to go, to protect our local population and I can’t personally thank all the teams and individuals involved enough.

“Our teams have delivered more than 815,000 vaccinations since the beginning of the programme in December 2020.

“This includes first, second and third doses and boosters COVID jabs and flu jabs and really highlights the unprecedented scale of work undertaken in the last 12 months.

“We are continuing to make great progress with the priority groups and are now vaccinating those aged 60-69 and over-16s with a health condition.”